Lightspeed Review
Advanced POS for retail and hospitality
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class inventory management
- ✓Advanced reporting and analytics
- ✓Strong B2B and wholesale features
- ✓Excellent e-commerce integration
- ✓Dedicated solutions for retail and restaurants
Cons
- ✗Higher price point than competitors
- ✗Steeper learning curve
- ✗Some features require higher tiers
- ✗Must use Lightspeed Payments on Basic plan
Best For
Pricing
Basic
Essential POS for new businesses
- ✓Cloud POS
- ✓1 register included
- ✓Basic reporting
- ✓24/7 support
- ✓Lightspeed Payments required
Core
For growing retail businesses
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓E-commerce included
- ✓Accounting integrations
- ✓Choose your processor
- ✓API access
Plus
Advanced features for scaling
- ✓Everything in Core
- ✓Loyalty program
- ✓Advanced reporting
- ✓Custom user roles
- ✓Dedicated success manager
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Lightspeed cost?
Lightspeed Retail starts at $89/month for Basic, $149/month for Core, and $239/month for Plus. Additional registers cost $59/month each. Lightspeed Restaurant has similar tiered pricing.
Is Lightspeed good for small businesses?
Lightspeed is powerful but may be overkill for very small operations. It's best suited for established businesses with complex inventory needs, multiple locations, or B2B sales. Smaller businesses may find Square more cost-effective.
What's the difference between Lightspeed Retail and Restaurant?
Lightspeed Retail is designed for stores (inventory, purchase orders, variants). Lightspeed Restaurant (formerly Lightspeed U-Series) is built for food service with table management, menu building, and kitchen displays. They're separate products.
Does Lightspeed require contracts?
Lightspeed offers both monthly and annual billing. Annual plans typically offer a discount. No long-term contracts are required, though enterprise customers may have custom terms.